Fisher no fan of December signing period

Brent Zwerneman
| on December 19, 2017

Photo: Mark Mulligan /Houston Chronicle

New Texas A&M University head football coach Jimbo Fisher talks during a press conference at the school's Hall of Champions at Kyle Field on Dec. 4, 2017, in College Station. Fisher is opposed to the new early signing period for high school seniors.

COLLEGE STATION — One of Jimbo Fisher’s biggest complaints two weeks into his new job at Texas A&M has nothing to do with the Aggies — instead it’s a gripe shared by plenty of new college coaches across the land.

“I don’t like the signing day where it’s at,” Fisher said of the new early signing period that starts on Wednesday. “I want it at the end of July or the first of August.”

In the “old” days — as recently as 10 months ago — coaches brought onboard to a program in, say, early December, had about two months to tweak and finalize a class they typically inherited from the fired or departed coach. Now, with the new signing period, that time has been compressed to weeks, not months.

“It just makes it very tough because with a new coach coming in you’ve got two to three weeks to hustle up a class,” said Fisher, hired in early December from Florida State.

Fisher inherited a solid slew of verbal pledges from the fired Kevin Sumlin, a current class of 15 highlighted by Manvel receiver Jalen Preston, Arlington Lamar defensive tackle Bobby Brown, Katy Taylor defensive end Max Wright and Elkins offensive lineman Luke Matthews, among four other four-star prospects, according to 247Sports.com.

“We love the guys we have committed, we feel very strong with those guys and we’re just trying to add to that list,” Fisher said.

He’s added one prospect since his hire on Dec. 4: junior-college tight end Jace Sternberger. A&M’s class is ranked 18th nationally by 247Sports as of Tuesday night, and offensive lineman Colten Blanton of Cypress Ranch and Sternberger intend to sign early and also enroll early, according to Brian Perroni of 247Sports.

In addition, six more players among the pledges intend to sign early, including Wright, Matthews, safety Jordan Moore of Yoakum, receiver Montel Parker of Dickinson, receiver Caleb Chapman of Clear Brook and kicker Seth Small of Katy, Perroni reports.

Fisher’s pie-in-the-sky solution doesn’t involve erasing the new early signing period; it simply moves it to prior to the players’ final season of high school. The traditional early February signing day still exists either way.

“Once he signs the kid and the coaches don’t have to deal with recruiting,” Fisher said. “You know who’s in and who’s out — and then you have the February signing date.”

Fisher realizes that doesn’t leave any room for a prospect should a coaching change be made at that program — why he offered one more solution, one that’s not currently an option with the early signing in December.

“If they sign early (in the summer), then they can opt out and then have the February signing period,” Fisher said in the case of a coaching change — and only because of a coaching change. “I wish we would do that. It’s better, and easier on the kids.”

Sumlin’s former staff has continued recruiting and coaching in honoring the terms of their contracts, although most will not be retained following the Belk Bowl on Dec. 29, when the 7-5 Aggies face 7-5 Wake Forest in Charlotte, N.C.

“We’re making sure we’re doing everything we can as a staff to finish this the right way,” interim coach Jeff Banks said. “Whether we’re getting retained or not.”